Archive for category Boldness

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. [NRSV]

The Title song, “Unchained Melody”, of the 1955 movie Unchained has been sung and recorded by many different sings becoming a platnum recorded hit in both the US and UK. The list of singers included:

The original theme song captured the torn heart of a man who while in prison was pulled between escaping prison and serving his term to return to his love and family.

Oh, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh
“Wait for me, wait for me”
I’ll be coming home, wait for me

Oh, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered, for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely mountains gaze
At the stars, at the stars
Waiting for the dawn of the day

All alone I gaze
At the stars, at the stars
Dreaming of my love far away

We live in a culture where it is easy to be torn between hearing the Gospel as a message that frees us to live for God while others hear it as exclusive words that harn and divide.

Each time you hear song, one of the most popular songs worldwide, in the 20th century, think of God singing it to the church.

Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much, Are you still mine?

.. Wait for my, I”ll be coming home, wait for me. wait for me.

Paul again is sharing with Timothy, call him to remind the church to not be ashamed of the Gospel but live as a person who is free to live for God, even if you are in prison.

Think of all the reasons to keep silent? To escape the grace of the Gospel?

Remain Faithful.

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful

Q: The Task for us to how to encourage one another in remaining faithful.

Actions over Words: The say is true and sure: Your witness may be the only Gospel someone reads.*

*Note the asterisk: I don’t have to preach, teacher, prophet, or spokesperson as long as I am presenting myself as one who is freed in Christ, as one approved and accepted by God.

The (*) requires that we make sure know of the message has been received as intended.

Present Yourself as a Worker for God.

“Dressed” for work that reflects God’s grace. Not a church dress code, rather dressed to serve.

“Dressed” to witness

“Dressed” to represent God.

“Dressed” is an act of preparation:

Prepare not by having the right words, but the Godly actions

am I prepared to love?

am I prepared to forgive?

am I prepared to lead others to Christ?

am I prepared to feed, clothe and comfort?

am I prepared to be persecuted, rejected, inconvenienced?

am I prepared to tell God’s truth or my convenient version

The Path Taken

Whether broad or narrow: God is with us.

There be faithful in sharing the Gospel.

Last week I invited you to make contact and pray for someone

This week our homework is to prepare to show some part of the Gospel in our actions.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us. [NRSV]

ON GUARD

God able, god is on duty, Holy Spirit is living and working

The treasure is entrusted to you

God Guards us, We guard the Good News

Ashamed of the testimony

Remember the Treasure: Jesus appeared lived and died, Reborn resurrected to give light thru the gospel.

Don’t be ashamed of sharing the Good News

Paul knew Timothy would hesitate at times, and Paul knew we, the church, would as well.

His Remedy:

Be rekindled

Power and love, both hand in hand, not one without the other

Power: Boldness,

Love: Tenderness,

Together each temper and strengthens the other

Laying on Of hands

Connection by Physically and Spiritual Connecting via “laying on of hands”

Play your hand on someone’s shoulder or head or take them by the hand

In the strength of prayer and the compassion of love, tell them

God loves you. Christ gave himself for YOU, God lives in your, Receive the power and love fo the Holy Spirit. Know these treasures and live your life sharing them with one another.

Connection physically and spiritual communion with Christ in bread and cup.

Come to the table and be made new in Jesus Christ, and filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,who gave himself a ransom for all —this was attested at the right time.For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. [NRSV]

Paul gives a rather curious footnote in his letter. “I am telling the truth, I am not lying“. It is usually in our experience that if we think someone needs to hear us say these words that there is some question about our vercity, our truthfulness or trustworthiness.

There are two pieces of instruction to which this appears to be reffering:

First, Paul’s instruction to pray for everyone, including kings and high officials.

Secondly, Paul’s ministry of being a messenger and apostle as a teacher of the Gentiles.

A. Prayer:

Objectively and with humility, it is a simple command to pray for everyone including those who have authority over you and over us all. On the other hand, it is also difficult to carry out with sincerity, to supplicate, intercede and giving thanksgiving for everyone, including those who lead or would choose to lead us.

Two observations:

(1) One Paul is not giving the community of faith the excuse, a pass, to ignore those who oppress, make difficult or misuse their authority, rather it is the community of faith’s role to keep the conversation in the context of God’s grace and God’s working of bringing peace through all people, to all people.

(2) Paul is neither saying the everyone, including those in high offices, are not in need of prayerful help from God and God’s people. Therefore, pray with, pray for and pray into the thanksgiving to which we are called to become.

I challenge to pray for God to be known to our leaders, for our leaders and through our leaders so that God might be known, praised and thanks given to God.

B. Ministry Authority:

Paul appointed: hearld, apostle and teacher.

(In readying how Paul was persicuted, jailed, shipwrecked, run out of town, dismissed by others in the Way, in the church: for his earlier persicustion of Jesus, Paul is claiming athority by appointment from God.)

As Wesleyan Methodist we see God’s preventative, justifying and sanctifying graces at work. As well as an affirmation that some authority is revealed directly in our experience of the Holy Spirit.

God using someone that was the least likely person to reach the Jewish community and certainly not the Gentile community.

I believe this is the connection Paul wants to affirm to Timothy because he is conferring this authority Timothy, to the rest of the church and to you and me gathered here today.

Paul’s reminder to Timothy is also a reminder to each of us and to those who believe and trust some other gods, doctrines or principles.

The truthful and trustworthiness of our authority is under attack:

Externally, When we listen to the civil view of the church’s role it has become one of many voices.

Internally, When we pray only for whom and what we want, rather than for God’s will and work.

Communally & Personally, When we listen to fears and hate rather than prayer we attack truth and trust

The instruction is to remember that you and I are appointed to the same work:

Herald: The messengers, witnesses, and advocates for Christ’s presence in the world.

Apostle: Leader, delegator, and one who shares Christ’s living present in the world.

Teacher: Instructor, one who models the heart of Christ internally and externally, to church and world. for everyone, including the king and other leaders.

Challenge:

Live as people of the Truth of Christ. (Not fighting over what is the principles of truth, rather trusting the truth of Christ to be lived out in how we interact, prayer, prepare and instruct each other.

The challenge to Timothy and to us is one of action. This is where Paul is not lying, not teasing, not suggesting, not holding back!

Bottom Line:

You and I are the Heralds, Leaders, and Teacher that are called model a life of prayer for this world: teaching, revealing and modeling the grace and power of Christ to save, save us all. Amen.

LinK: I could lie, but I won’t liey to you. God is with us and calls us to tell Christ’s truth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wherever_I_Go_(song) OneRepublic Lyrics:

I know I could lie, but I won’t lie to you
Wherever I go, you’re the ghost in the room
I don’t even try looking for something new
Cause wherever I go, I’ll be looking for you

Some people try but they can’t find the magic
Others get down on their knees and they pray
I come alive when I’m close to the madness
No easy love could ever make me feel the same
Make me feel the same

This is what the Lord God showed me—a basket of summer fruit. He said, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me, “The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass them by. The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day,” says the Lord God; “the dead bodies shall be many, cast out in every place. Be silent!” Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the Sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat.” The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. Shall not the land tremble on this account, and everyone mourn who lives in it, and all of it rise like the Nile, and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt? On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on all loins, and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day. The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it. [NRSV]

Sackcloth, baldness, morning only child, a bitter day.

Sackcloth, baldness and morning, oh my!

Sackcloth, baldness and morning, oh my!

Sackcloth, baldness and morning, oh my!

• Sackcloth: A sign of sinfulness
• Baldness: A sign of unhealthiness
• Morning an Only Child: Grief for this generation and the next
• Bitter Day: A sign of our separation from God.

Sending a famine instead of a fruit basket.

Not a famine of land, bread or thirst
But a famine of HEARING the words of the Lord.
God’s bringing a basket that we fill find as empty.
• If I bring fruit every day, and no one takes even a bite, it will eventually spoil
• If I bring healthy snacks and no one even samples, we will eventually starve
• If I bring hope for this generation and the next and no one trusts and believes, we have nothing left.

The basket is full of unwanted, un-tasted, un-sampled, un-digested, un-used nourishment: It lies in waste (or lingers in our waists)

Seeking and not finding, Knocking and nothing opening, Asking and receiving none.

The question of the day is
how long will the famine take?
How many attacks can we stand?
How many bodies left on the ground?
How many reports of violence before we are numb?

Where is the fruit basket?

• The basket of milk and honey?
• The basket of power and grace?
• The basket of truth and certainty?
• The basket of goodness and peace?

We want that fruit basket, then
1. Why not eat it when it is placed in front of you?
2. Why wait until there are famine and ruin?

Today is the day for feasting on the Word of God.

• Open and read it
• Read and share it
• Share and sing it
• Sing and Teach it
• Teach and live it
• Live it and find the God, who loves us, living with us, still.

As [Jesus] was going up to Jerusalem.When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?’ just say this, “The Lord needs it.’ “So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”They said, “The Lord needs it.”Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.“He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it,saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side.They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” [NRSV]

The entrance into the holy city Jerusalem is akin to the presidential motorcade after the inauguration swearing in service. People lined the way, shoulder to shoulder, waving and cheering the confirmation of their new leader. But Jesus did not arrive in the usual way. Neither had he been endorsed by the Sadducees nor Pharisees. He entered riding on the back of a humble work animal instead of a proud steed of power and status. He was praised by the disciples, those who had been healed, fed, blessed and taught along the way of Jesus’s ministry. I make NO contemporary political correlation to candidates running today, only to the stress and strife of a non-establishment figure being ushered into the city by the voice of the people.

We may have more insight into the context of this event that other generations. The Pharisees saying, “If this Jesus becomes our leader, I’m leaving Jerusalem” The Sadducees saying, “If they don’t get a handle on this outsider, we will take steps to bring our own man in.” Do you get the scene and the tensions?

The establishment says, stop your people from this circus. Teacher, we hold you responsible for the chaos. It’s your fault. We will stop you if you don’t stop the unruly crowd. [Again, I am not suggestion that any of our political figures are messianic leaders, but I am listening to the similarities of the crowds and the commentators and voices of the establishments then and now.]

All this sets the stage for Palm Sunday. We would much rather look at the scenes of the children lining the streets waving along the Jesus parade as a sweet image of Palm Sunday and not see the emerging political unrest that blows up in less than a week. I believe it is vitally important to look at the politics that is very much part of the Palm Sunday story.

The sweetest fruit in this passage from Luke’s Gospel is about seeing and not seeing. It is about believing and refusing to believe. It is about choosing to accep or closing our eyes, “sticking our heads in the sand in times of fear”,

instead of proclaiming

Jesus Christ is real,

Jesus is King, and

Jesus is with us.

The secondary witness is about praise that cannot be held back.

When we know Jesus is real, this becomes the foundation of our life

When we know Jesus is King, this becomease the guide for our living

When we know Jesus is with us, nothing can stop us from praising.

So What is “Palm Sunday About?”

There story is about preparing for worship

The story is about making way/room for Jesus in our public/fears

The story is about remaing awake and aleart that it is Jesus that leads us and not anything or anyone esle.

Where does Peace come from? The Prince of Peace:

Peace does not come from armies and weapons

Peace does not come from governments and policies

Peace does not come from acts of kindness and justice

Peace comes from God, through Jesus Christ, guided by the Spirit, through the church, through us for for the whole world.

Palm Sunday is about seeking peace from God with us.

If we cant’ see God with us, we will never find Peace.

Peace in Syria?, in Instanbull?, in the media? in the streets of our nation? in our homes? in our hearts?

Peace comes when Jesus comes in.

Peace comes when Jesus is praised

Peaces is possible to see when we see God showing up on our streets.

We life our palm brances as signs of a

new life,

a new way

a new day, made possible thorugh Jesus Chirst, our King.

The Practice response..

Start with what we have: cloaks and branches and pave the way.

Start with our

Praise

Words

Witness of kindness

Forgiving first,

Loving even though others have not loved us first

Our hearts

Our gifts

Our time

Our presence

Our wintess

Use these to pave the way for Christ to enter our

hearts,

conversations,

homes,

streets,

communities,

nation and the world.

That means raise the praise in church but don’t stop there, don’t stop now,

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [NRSV]

The One sentence sermon: Because of God’s work of grace in Christ makes our spirit new, we are charged with a ministry of doing the same with the world through Christ.

Paul Case for the Church:

God has been busy.

God has changed the world, the rules and has changed us.

The rules and boundaries have changed.

We are no longer in control and no longer responsible for our salvation.

Because God lived, died and conquered death, we now know God, in this new resurrection life.

Everything old has passed away.

Everything is being made new

God’s goal is to make things whole.

Reconciliation: God making our relationship whole.

Why would God want to reset the relationship with us? The old ways are not working for us.

What are the old ways?

Choosing to Trust God with the purpose of our living.

Choosing What God would want for us, because we trust God’s love and authority

Choosing not because death is the alternative, rather because trusting God is

Good

God is working through us, just as God worked through Jesus.

Ministry of Reconciliation

Work as Ambassadors

Being whole is God reflects our purpose,

get your Jesus Shine on, show them, Chrost

Ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Official spokespersons and witnesses of Jesus.

Because

In Christ we are a new creation, the old passes away,

This is made possible by God, through Jesus, for a ministry of reconciliation.

We are entrusted with God’s message of reconciliation,

As resident representatives.

God appeal is make through us, when we are in Christ.

Ministry of reconciliation:

Be Reconciled, find the common ground, that leads to truce, which gives space for steps toward what is consistent with both parties and for Christians that is when we recognize that we are sinners, made new in Christ, to be witnesses to others sinful, broken, hurting folks toward the whole world accepting the work of Grace God has done through Christ for us all.

Be reconciled is be working toward Christ.

Be Ambassadors of the Journey

Be come the Child of God, through Christ, for the transformation of the world.

Key verse for being United Methodist

so what?

Applied to how we relate to sin, shine the light of Christ on our family, neighbor, communion, nation and world.. Show Christ

sometimes Jesus says take a sword other times put them away

sometimes Jesus says come to me and at the same time go and sin no more

sometimes Jesus rides in triumphantly and walks on water, other time he disappears in the crowd

sometimes Jesus says feed the hungry and times he says eat this bread

To reflect Christ is neither conservative nor liberal

To reflect Christ is allow the new creation to thrive and the old self to let go

To reflect Christ is to be close enough to Christ, by faith/trust, that it’s Christ the world sees

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.’ ” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. [NRSV]

Spiritual Retreat

Not a business trip,

Not a vacation,

Not a luxury,

Not even a mission trip,

Before Doing No Harm and Doing all the Good, it is the maturing of the Spirit of God within us.

Studying, prayer, fasting, listening and waiting for God.

But a necessary beginning point for ministry and faith.

Work of Nurturing Spirit within Us.

If you ever ask, “why am I so weary, worried or stressed?” think about the last time you devoted serious time to spiritual retreat.

The first lesson Jesus models is to be a strong spiritual person we need serious time for spiritual preparation.

But there is more.

Not only do we more often say to ourselves: “I don’t have time and energy for spiritual training, I did that years ago, or I will do that later.”

But when we invest the time, is not going to keep evil from confronting us.

2. The second lesson Jesus models is that Spiritual Training doesn’t help us avoid evil, it helps us confront evil and temptation.

Spiritual Training makes us ready for

On the last day of a month and a half spiritual journey, Jesus is hungry. Jesus is wrestling with acceptance. Jesus is contemplating his use of power.

The scope of the temptations takes him from Judea to Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, thus matching the three journey of Jesus’s ministry that Luke will recount in this gospel.

The weight of the three temptations ranges from small to medium to larger.

The reality of the three temptations was personal to Jesus’s condition, opportunity and position.

The thing about dealing with temptation for us is that it is equally personal, timely and as dangerous for us as it was for Jesus.

The SCENE: Evil shows us in our life and says: You are not getting what you deserve. You are not loved, attractive,

Fairness, Belonging, and Responsibility.

3. Jesus models listening to the voice of evil. We can’t live to hide and avoiding temptation. Jesus could not and neither can we.

On three particular fronts, Jesus is tempted.

How far can I lie to myself (Jesus was physically hungry, but his training was to trust God to provide.)

How can I fool my family and friends (Jesus knew God would provide, His training was to test himself, trust God and not test God.)

How can do what I want, use my family and friends and have the world at my feet. (If you and I have the power of God, how would alter physical and how far to test.)

Jesus doesn’t believe the twisted truth, lies, fears and threats, but he listens to know what the issue behind the words.

The devil asks him to use his authority to serve himself.

He was hungry, justifiable.

He was at the end of the journey, cut some slack, not going to be legalistic. and

No one will find out, only you and I will know.

The devil was asking:

serve yourself first

you can bend the lines

It’s all about you.

If we listen to the lies, twisted words, fears and threats of temptation, NOT BELEIVEING THEM but hearing what is at stake we can make better choices about faithfulness.

After listening Jesus speaks/acts:

4. The response Jesus models for us is to trust scripture to speak to us and tell our actions.

With every temptation, Jesus draws on scripture to tell and frame

One does not live by bread alone

Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him

Do not put the Lord your God, to the test.

40 days of Bible study, prayer and spiritual training, gives the opportunity to get familiar with scripture to allow God to speak through us, to face evil face-on, with the authority of God.

DANGER: It’s not using scripture as sarcasm to cut down our enemies, it is allowing God to speak to our enemies and let God deal with them.

God speaks the Love, the Truth, the Power, the Life, the Hope. Let temptation deal with God.

How does Jesus deal with evil

Spiritual Training

Preparing to Face and not Avoid Evil/Temptation

Listening for the truth about the voice of Temptation

Speaking God’s word instead of My words

Take these next forty days to read the Bible, as much as you can study

Take the next forty days to pray for the church, your faith, all the politics of the world, all the economies, all the fears

Take the next forty days to as the framework as a training program. Service, fasting, forgiving, singing, etc.

Take the next forty days to name, name, write down the things that temp and test our faith personally. seek out verses that speak to them.

Take the next forty days to prepare for Christ to live, speak and love through you.

Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

When I face temptation: I need to hear God speak through

Romans 8: 31-39 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is with us, in Jesus, in 30 AD in 2016 AD, in politics and poverty, in school and prisons, in church and walmart, GOD IS WITH US, ALWAYS.

Isaiah 40:28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

I’m as fickle, afraid and as vulnerable as grass blowing in the wind, and so are the opinions, polls, and agendas, but GOD IS EVERLASTING, GOD, is not tired, weary or uninterested. GOD WAS, IS AND WILL BE.

Philippians 4:13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I can’t do anything on my own, but if my strength and endurance are in God’s, I can do all things.

Full Plate for a Hungry World: Today is the Lord’s Day, let’s fill it up!

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” [NRSV]

Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.
Good News to the Poor
Release to Captive
Sight to the Blind
Freedom to the Oppressed
To Proclaim, Now is the Lord’s Moment

The Rest of Isaiah
Bind up the brokenhearted
Comfort the mourning
Provide for the grieving in Zion
Beauty instead of ashes,
oil of joy instead of mourning
garments of praise instead of despair

These will be called mighty oaks of righteousnessThe destroyed will be rebuiltThere will be a reversal where the world serves the holy in the holy places.

To Follow Jesus is to do these types of things for the glory of God.

To Follow Jesus is to begin doing these things today

To Follow Jesus is to transform the world

Why Do These?
Good News, freedom, vision, encourage, comfort, beauty, joy, praise.. all to reveal God’s claim on this day.

The Year of the LORD’s Favor, Isaiah 61 [NRSV]
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORDfor the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. 8 “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.” 10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” [NRSV]

Hey, Who cares about the Pope, we are not Catholic

Jesus is more concerned about actions and relationships than titles and divisions

The Popes visit was somewhat historic, this guy is Pope and he had never traveled to the super power of nations.

There were surely folks at the Vatican who were saying:

we do t need to go on some foreign mission when we have so many folks in need here in Vatican City, Italy and Europe

the trip is a waste of money, they have churches they can take care of this themselves

just stay here and send the, a letter or post a YouTube video

The Pope Models our work as Christians

The Hierarchy of he church made sure the Pope had audiences with leaders, congress, the United Nations and benefactors of the church.

The Pope interrupted all the plans each day to make small difference in the lives of individuals.

Dont ignore the witness of Christ through the Pope

What was going on in the US Thursday? 8:00pm

Thursday night football 3.2 million

Bill ORiley 2.7M watching the news

WWE Smackdown 2.3M watch the important professional wrestling

2.1 m watched mountain men on the history channel

1.9 watched the new episode of ‘ castle’

12 and a half million citizen age 2 and older were focused on watching TV

23 Million were estimated to be online

Popes modeling servanthood and we are media driven

2. If your not going to be modeling Christ, certainly don’t lead other astray

A) the old Miletone torture treatment: it’s a horrible statement from Jesus:

B) mangle the human body rather than leads the little/young in faith.

c) if you lead folks away from God by out example: the ultimate punishment is A hell never dying worms and flames that are an eternal torture.

If Jesus the Prince of Peace is working about all sorts of torture what’s going on here ?.

What must we do to avoid these terrible atrocities.

“Be salt”

make grains of difference

feed someone and tell the, why you are feeding them for Jesus, not your salvation

clothe someone and tell them how God is working I their presence not making you safe

visit someone, befriend someone and you build a relationship of Jesus with us that is genuine and real

co fort and heal as Christ working and you share the work of Christ in Suffering terror filled world that is still afraid of red moons and and threats of war.

Bottom line

what will it take to get serious about our faith?

for some, you are already on that journey

for some, you think your done, but you are not

for others, you Think it’s not your calling, that’s for others, you feel too busy, to weary, to thin, to full, to committed

A: will it take loosing your limb to see that you need Jesus

B will it take your death or someone else to see your life needs Jesus at the core

C will you eternally seek what worms can eat and fire can burn to find what is actually spiritual and actually eternal?

Lets help each other, I forage one another rather an ignore or scare each other.

Cardiologist said eat little to no salt. Jesus said, be the salt.

be the flavor

be the preservative

be the difference in one persons life of faith… And you will not go wrong

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act–they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. [NRSV]

What do we know in our head?

Love neighbor

feed hungry

clothe the naked

forgive your enemy: doesn’t mean they are not to be accountable, we allow them the opportunity to change

read and study the scriptures

Remember the forgotten, the widow and children/orphan

Today we have heard about a terrible social problem. (Trafficking)

Is it enough to know about the problem

or is there something we can we about the problem

report abuse and crimes

give children safe place to be

get involved in community and schools

Get help to victims and support change in he hearts of abusers

Others

Jesus empowers us as a moody not a museum

Don’t be deceived is the repeated warning

the devil is known as the great deceiver: say one thing and do another